A Bentley 3L makes an appearance in the Downton Abbey Xmas Special

"Gamecat235" (Gamecat235)
12/28/2014 at 23:08 • Filed to: Snappy Chariot

This years Christmas special of Downton Abbey (well, next year if you are watching it in the US on PBS) featured a new character and a new set of wheels (period specific). Because in theory I could be spoiling a minor plot line, I shall refrain from saying anything else above this line. However, I have had a fun time identifying the vehicles of Downton Abbey up to present, but have never had my inner Jalop get so excited when a vehicle was introduced.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Matthew Goode (to me most notable for his performance of Finn Polmar on The Good Wife) is introduced as a new character (Henry Talbot), and toward the end of the episode, Lady Mary has the following encounter with Henry.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Which is followed a brief exchange wherein it is learned that the "Snappy Chariot" (a 1920's Bentley 3L) is Henry's personal vehicle. The following look of amazement (lust? wonder?) when Lady Mary realizes this is simply priceless (as evidenced in the first gif below).

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I now realize it's probably worth going back and actually spending some time evaluating the vehicles which have been featured on Downton Abbey.

DISCUSSION (11)

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Gamecat235
12/28/2014 at 23:38

I have high hopes that she keeps him, he says hes a driver, so maybe he races. Please oh please have some sort of car race on the show!

Gamecat235 > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
12/28/2014 at 23:43

1. I really like Matthew Goode (he plays a great straightforward character).

2. I am very intrigued by a new character who is passionate about cars and clearly spends his money on this passion.

3. I share your hopes about racing. This could be a great turn of events for the gearheads who watch.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Gamecat235
12/28/2014 at 23:47

He made it sound like he was more than a casual driver. I like the actor and she needs a strapping chap to get her in line!

Gamecat235 > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
12/28/2014 at 23:55

He did, but then he jumped over the door to a Bentley... We can hope, right?

stuttgartobsessed > Gamecat235
12/29/2014 at 00:45

Whelp, that did it. I'm starting Downton Abbey now.

Gamecat235 > stuttgartobsessed
12/29/2014 at 01:13

You'll be quite depressed if you expect anything remotely vehicle oriented on a regular basis... but the period correct vehicles and storylines are pretty interesting. And this was the first time I did a doubletake and simply had to say something on here about the show.

That said, the show itself is... well it's entertaining if you like period dramas with a giant rotating cast. It's quite well done.

Buick Mackane > Gamecat235
12/29/2014 at 01:13

I've been watching Downton Abbey since the beginning of the series. I noticed that not one person (the host Laura Linney or even the producer) on PBS Masterpiece Theater is able to pronounce "Downton Abbey" correctly. Why do we Americans always drop the "T" when saying it?

stuttgartobsessed > Gamecat235
12/29/2014 at 13:29

I've seen random episodes and liked it. I just need to find somewhere i can stream it now. Though I'd probably end up binge watching it like I do most shows!

WillotheGlen > Gamecat235
02/17/2015 at 18:27

Identification of vehicles of that vintage is not my forte, but after a few back-and-forths with the remote control while watching this episode on disc, I caught a decent glimpse of the Bentley badging on the radiator shell. Nice to have my guess confirmed. ('Snappy chariot' indeed!)

(Interesting to note the look on Lady Mary's face after Henry Talbot tells her that the 'snappy chariot' is his car — she seems quite intrigued, given that her late husband met his untimely end in an automobile accident.)

Gamecat235 > WillotheGlen
02/17/2015 at 18:47

Glad I could help. I actually had a bit of back and forth with trying to ID the car. The front badge comes in and out so quickly that I actually paused the show as it was driving away and saw the old badge on the back.

DrJohannVegas > Gamecat235
06/17/2015 at 22:56

GC, you might want to be aware that some of your fellow mods are taking it upon themselves to interrogate other users. (See whole thread.) http://gawker.com/don-t-feel-obl…